The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-02

cabins and Ill paid and wearisome labors-
There are few Uen. and am glad to say,
but few. who say the soldiers enlisted for
money; that the government paid him his
wages, and now owes him neither gratitude
nor pension. But the great American heart
that beats with loyal emotions, that feels
the common impulses of humanity, will go
out to the MANNED and crippled who lost
health and hope in their c0untry's use,and
the time will come and pray God it will
come soon, when il will be accounted a dis
grace to permit a soldier or a soldiers family
10 beg for bread. The time will soon come
when the public purse will pour out its
treasures for the support of the MANNED
soldier as freely as he poured out his blood
in the support of his country and his coun-
try's honor. am glad to say that here in
sunny Kansas, upon the very border, where
the tide OF slavery was first checked, that
the dependant veteran can find n refuge
from poverty and want, and here In this
state, dedicated TO freedom, is found a pop
uiatlon OF soldiers that has made Kansas the
brightest star in the constellation of states.
The new south, Phoenix like, has risen
from the aches of her own folly and bids fair
to soon compete successfully in skilled Ia
Dor and manufactures WITH her New Eng
land rivals.
The free colored man does not make less
cotton, because his children can read and
write, nor does the ballot that is placed in
hood.
A southern editor eulogizes Lincoln and
loyalty, where Toombs and Davis taught re-
belllon and treason; and Sheridan is toasted
and toasted where John Brown was hung
and Sumner and Phillips burned in effigy.
ana though a few croakers still mourn over
the grave of the lost cause the American
union is a living reality as well in the cotton
fields OF Mississippi as in the pine forests of
Maine.
The south may not quite keep step to the
| music, but 1T is marching in the line, under
| the ample folds OF the starry flag of the ma
| ton.
| The growth of the country in wealth,
| commerce and population, since the war,
has been the wonder of this age. From a
population OF 100000 in 1850 we have in
| creased to upwards of 6OOO0 coo in 1887 The
| wild erness has been cleared, the desert
| traversed, the depths of the mountains have
| been penetrated, and the " ealth of fields
and mines have built cities and towns, con.
structed waterways and railroads, until to-
day we are the most prosperous and pro-
i gressive people on earth.
In this progressive, practical age, it is
often as ked does 1t pay to keep up this GUS
tom of decorating the graves of our dead
soldiers? Would IL not be better to use the
money and time expended for this purpose
III some other way? And, would IL not be
best to let the war feeling die out, least we
might offend some who favored secession
during the W tr? To the last reason answer
that the way TO stimulate patriotism is to
honor it, and we can never afford as individ-
uals or as nation. to condemn treason,
whether IL existed under the speciouS doc
trtne OF states rights, or the miserable
heresy of compromise with traitors. As long
as the nation stands and its fl g waves, the
" Will us Uc-
Tenders.
Il Let us sec if in a financial sense Decora-
ton day pays: In Spain, in times of peace,
one in every fifty is a soldier; in Turkey,
one to every fifty five; in France, one to
every eighty-three; in Russia, one to every
ninety one; in Germany, one in every one
hundred; in England, one in every two
hundred and fifty. During war or threat
! ened war, the number of soldiers is doubled
and often Quadrupled. Military camps and
schools everywhere abonnd, and the people
tiara w. nd haf nj
| bayonets. The immense burden of arming
and supporting these vast bodies of men
tails with crushing weight upon capitalist
and labOrer, besides the costs and material
| the demoraiZtng influence OF the camp
infects the entire people. lessons the value
! of human life, degrades morality, produces
pauperism and crime.
In the United states with thousands OF
miles OF seaboard, with more sparsely set
| tied territory than any civilized nation save
Russia, with savage and restless Indian
tribes upon Our borders we have one soldier
for every $500 souls. Our little standing
army of less than 20, J00 could scarcely police
| single state, and is used only FOR the pur
pose of keeping our Indian tribes upon their
reservations. Are we Americans less jeal-
Gus of Our liberties than The Spaniard or the
German? Are our homes less sacred than
the homes OF the Russian peasant, or the
French Shop-keeper? Are we less able to
raise and maintain armies than our
European neiShborS.
No, it is II Ause we keep alive in the
/ hearts OIOur people INC we ENJOY,
and the price in money and blood we paid to
preserve them. 1t is because we teach our
children upon these occasions, that to the
volunteer soldiers of the Union we owe the
integrity of our country and the honor of
our flag. Memorial day pays because it
teaches us to love our country and to hate
treason. Because it teaches us that If we
would enjoy the highest blessings of free
country we must be ready and willing TO
defend our liberties with our lives and If we
fall in our cOuntry's cause, we too, will re-
ceive the nations gratitude and the bless
ings OF humanity. Let this day of all the
| days OF the year he hallowed, Let us
come together year after year, with floral
offerings and grateful hearts to beautify the
graves of sleeping heroes, till the last old
soldier is gathgered to his final home and the
| grand army that the nation loved and hon.
| ored here shall stand upon the shores of
| eternity to answer the final roll call in that
| home of rest and peace in the great here
| after.